Detroit’s Ford Field will host the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross/World Supercross GP series for the first time this Saturday, March 25.
The Detroit area has a strong tradition of AMA Supercross racing with the Pontiac Silverdome hosting races dating back to 1976, but this year the event moves to the heart of downtown Detroit for round 12 of the 16-race AMA and round 13 of the 17 round World SX GP championship.
Floridian Ricky Carmichael leads both championships coming into the Detroit Supercross. Carmichael, who is attempting to earn his fifth AMA Supercross Series title and second World SX GP crown, last won the race in Pontiac in 2001.
Carmichael finished second to Kawasaki’s James Stewart last weekend in Orlando, but scoffs at the suggestion that he may be simply riding to protect his points lead now with the series entering the final stages.
"I gave it my all in Orlando," claimed Carmichael. "James was just too good and I couldn’t keep his pace. My points lead over Chad and James is not that great. Both of them are still in the championship picture so there’s no way I’m going to back off now."
Ricky is looking forward to racing in Ford Field for the first time.
"It’s always exciting to race in a new venue," he said. "It looks like a great facility and the fans in Michigan are some of the best in the country. I hope I can work a little harder this week and come to Detroit to give them a good race to watch."
Stewart dominated this past Saturday in Orlando to win his fourth AMA Supercross and sixth SXGP race of the year. He hasn’t given up hope on the AMA championship even though he’s in third place coming into Detroit and 23-points behind leading Carmichael.
"I’m going to give it all I’ve got every weekend," said Stewart, who is nonetheless just 6-points from RC in the SXGP battle. "All I can do is keep trying to win races. Anything can happen in the championship, you only need to look at the St. Louis race to see that."
